Automatic animal feeding machine

ABSTRACT

A feeding machine for animals comprising a rotatable bin for feed having separated compartments which can be selectively rotated by an automatic timing mechanism to release feed and, optionally, water into a feeding chute.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,741,162 L0 ez June 26 1973 [54]AUTOMATIC ANIMAL FEEDING MACHINE 2,500,243 3/1950 Dixon 1l9/5l.13 13,119,526 1/1964 Sutton 119/51.l1 X [76] Invent gg t x zz %gg Dale3,196,835 7/1965 Bergevin 119/51.11

e v a v Filedi l 25, 1970 Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee [2]] ApplNo: 75,376 Attorney-Ronald L. Juniper [52] US. Cl. ll9/5l.l3, ll9/51.5[57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl A01k 5/02 [58] Field of Search 119/511351.11, feedmg ammals a 1 19/5 1 51 5 bin for feed having separatedcompartments WhlCl'l can be selectively rotated by an automatic timingmecha- 56] References Cited nism to release feed and, optionally, waterinto a feed- UNITED STATES PATENTS mg chute 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures3,340,851 9/1967 Frank et al. ll9/51.l3

1 AUTOMATIC ANIMAL FEEDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Often itis necessary for owners of animals to be away from the places where theanimals are kept for days at a time. During such times feeding theanimals can be a problem since finding someone to care for them is notalways easy. Hence, there is a need for a machine to feed animals atpre-selected periods of time automatically to alleviate this problem.Since economy and reliability are important qualities, the apparatusshould not be unduly complicated and should incorporate relativelyrugged component parts. It is the primary object of this invention toachieve these results and other advantages which will be apparent fromthe following illustrative description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theexterior of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical crosssectional view of the interior of theinvention. 1 1 4 FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the invention takenthrough 3 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plane view of the timer mechanism portion of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the water release system taken through 5 5in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view of the water release system as in FIG. 5 wherein thelever is dropped to actuate water release.

FIG. 7 is a view of the timer mechanism taken through 7 7 in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of this invention asshown in the drawings includes a supporting structure which .includes anonnally horizontal rectangular top plate 10 and bottom plate 12interconnected by three vertical walls 14, 16 and 18 to three adjacentsides of each of plates 10 and 12 and a vertical door 20 connected byhinges to the open edge of wall 18 and closing adjacent to the open edgeof wall 14. Supported intermediate the top and bottom plates 10 and 12and attached to the vertical walls are closely spaced horizontal shelves22 and 24 mounted within the supporting structure which, as viewed here,takes the form of an enclosed upright cabinet.

Suspended from the bottom central portion of the lower shelf 24 byspaced bolts 26 and 28 is a horizontal platform 30 used to support thetimer mechanism to be described hereinafter.

Attached beneath platform 30 is a timer motor 32 which is engaged torotate a central axle 34 that protrudes through a complementary hole inplatform 30 to rotate a circular timer plate 36 centrally affixed toaxle 34 and mounted above platform 30. The timer plate 36 includesequally spaced circumferential marks around its outside edge which,preferably, can serve as a 24- hour clock when the timer motor 32 is setto rotate plate 36 once each 24 hours.

Extending out from a portion of the circumferential periphery of timerplate 36 is a tripper pin 38. This pin 38 is so positioned that as plate36 rotates it will from time to time engage one of the trippers whichtakes the form of small rods 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 extending downfrom a rotatable cam 52. The cam 52 is mounted for rotation on an axle54 which is, in turn, connected to and driven by a selectively actuatedmotor. 56 mounted beneath horizontal platform 30.

This motor 56 is turned off" and on" (so as to rotate the cam 52) by amicroswitch 58 which includes a spring-tensioned movable actuating leverarm 60 having a rounded switch button 62 on its free end. This lever arm60 is so positioned relative to cam 52 that its switch button 62resiliently presses against the periphery of cam 52 and turns the cammotor 56 on when it presses against the normal peripheral portions ofcam 52 but turns the cam motor 56 ofi when switch button 62 drops intoone of the series of spaced concave pockets 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72formed in the circumferential peripheral surface of cam 52.

In the form shown this coordination of the on off switch actuation ofcam motor 56 is achieved by forming the cam 52 as a generallycylindrical element that has a peripheral outward surface that iscircular and indented by the concave pockets 62, 64, 66, 68, and

72 spaced at regular intervals thereon. The axis of axle 54, in turn, isaligned perpendicular to the plane of the movement of lever arm 60 sothat when the switch button 62 on the end thereof drops down into one ofthe concave pockets it turns the cam motor 56 off thereby stoppingrotation by motor 56 of the cam 52 and its connected axle 54. Then,after the elapse of a preselected amount of time controlled by timermotor 32, the extending tripper pin 38 on the connected timer plate 36will turn to push the nearest one of the small rods 40, 42, 44, 46,48 or50 (which extend down from equally spaced locations adjacent to thecircumferential periphery of cam 52). Each of these rods are mountedbetween a pair of the spaced concave pockets on the periphery of cam 52so that when pushed by tripper pin 38, the cam 54 will be turned on itsaxis 54 just enough to cause the switch button 62 to slide out of theconcave pocket in which it is resting and up onto the adjacent portionof the peripheral surface of cam 54.

This, in turn, will move the actuating lever arm 60 so that it turns onthemicroswitch 58 and also the cam motor 56 so as to rotate the cam axle54 and cam 52 until the switch button 62 on the actuating lever arm 60again drops down into the next concave pocket in the circumferentialperipheral surface of cam 52 thereby turning microswitch 58 and theassociated mechanisms off. This process is continually repeated at thetimed intervals preselected on the timing mechanism previouslydescribed.

The cam axle 54 extends upwardly from the cam 52 through mating holes inthe lower horizontal shelf 24 and the upper horizontal shelf 22 toprovide a central axle portion 76 for the rotatable feed bin 78. Thisfeed bin 78 in the embodiment of this invention shown here iscylindrical in form and constructed to include a number of compartments(six as shown here) separated from each other by the radiating, equallyangled vertical feed bin section walls 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 and 90' whicheach extend from the central axle portion 76 outwardly to join with theinterior of the circular wall of feed bin 78 so as to form sixpie-shaped feed compartments 92, 94, 96, 98 100 and 102.

Both the top and bottom of these feed compartments is open so that theycan be loaded with feed through the top and emptied through the bottom.However, the bottom of all the feed compartments is normally closedbecause the bottom of the feed bin 78 is positioned immediately abovethe top surface of upper shelf 22 with just enough separation to allowrotation without binding. The shelf 22 in turn is solid so as to form aclosing means for all of the compartments except one. The onecompartment which is not provided with the bottom closing meanscooperation of shelf 22 is positioned over an opening (preferablypie-shaped like the compartments) in the upper shelf 22, which opensinto a feed chute 110 which extends down through an opening through thelower shelf 24 and terminates at a feed outlet 112 through the bottom ofthe cabinet vertical wall 14 placed just above a feed pan 114 attachedthereto.

The vertical feed bin section walls are attached to the central axleportion 76 relative to the concave pockets on cam 52 insuch a way thatwhen switch button 62 is stopped within one of said concave pockets, oneof the feed compartments is directly positioned over the opening throughupper shelf 22 into the feed chute 110 to thereby unload its contentsdown the chute. Then, when the tripper pin 38 is moved by the rotationof timer plate 36 to engage one of the small rods extending down fromcam 52 so as to start it rotating enough to slide the-switch button 62out of a concave pocket thereby turning the microswitch 58 and cam motor56 on to cause the feed bin 78, in turn, to rotate as previouslydescribed.

In order to provide wet feed for the animal using this device anautomatically actuated water release system may be provided as bestshown in FIGS. and 6. This includes a vertical water inlet pipe 120 andassociated inlet receiving hose 122 (connected to a source of water, notshown) attached thereto by a fitting 124 mounted in and through holes inthe upper horizontal shelf 22 and the lower horizontal shelf 24.

The water inlet pipe 120 extends up to a terminal top position near thetop edge of feed bin 78 where it is formed as a funnel shaped valve seat126 providing internal seating for a spring-actuated check valve 128.This valve 128 can selectively block the flow of water therethrough toan interconnected water outlet line 130 which extends verticallytherefrom down along the inside of wall 14 of the cabinet and throughsuitable openings in shelves 22 and 24 to terminate after passingthrough another suitable opening in wall 14 slightly above feed pan 114through a short horizontal outlet pipe 132.

The actuation of the check valve 128 is controlled by a lever arm 134pivotally connected to a pivot support 135 and mounted to press down ona top portion 136 of valve 128. The free end 138 of arm 134 rests on thetop of feed bin 78 and is so positioned that it is moved up and down toopen and close valve 128 and to thereby control the passage of watertherethrough. The check valve 128 and associated pivotally mounted leverarm l34can be the mechanism conventionally used for flushing a toiletsuch as the American Standard Brand without a bulb float on the end ofarm 134.

The positioning of lever arm 134 is such that it is coordinated to haveits free end 138 rest on the top edge of one of the vertical feed binsection walls 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 and 90 to close the valve 128 when thefeed bin compartment over the feed chute 110 has emptied. Then when thefeed bin 78 is actuated by the timing mechanism previously described torotate so as to empty another feed bin compartment, the free end 138 ofarm 134 drops down (as best viewed in FIG. 6) to open valve 128. Thisallows water to flow through the inlet pipe into the outlet line to wetthe feed as it slides down the feed chute l 10 by pouring through thehorizontal outlet pipe 132 into feed pan 114.

To provide drinking water for the animal a bottle holder 140 having ahole therein suitable for holding a water bottle 142 above, a water pan144 is attached (as shown in FIG. 6) to the lower portion of verticalwall 18 of the cabinet. The bottle 142 is filled with drinking water andthen inverted and placed in the holder 142 so that the outlet of thebottle extends into the water pan 144 to provide a gravity controlledregular water supply which fills the pan 144 as the animal drinks. Thatis, as long as water remains in the bottle 142 it will flow down intothe pan 144 to maintain a constant water level in the pan. Thus, acomplete automatically controlled and timed unit is provided for caringfor the animals needs while its owner is away from home.

Though a particular form of this invention has been described in detailherein for illustrative purposes it is not intended that this inventionbe limited to all the specific details therein but is is meant tocomprehend variations and modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe following appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic feeding machine for animals comprising a supportingstructure, a rotatable feed bin mounted within said supportingstructure, said feed bin having vertically sectioned separateopen-bottomed compartments, a feed chute mounted within said supportingstructure beneath one of said compartments and extending down therefromexterior of said structure to an outlet to provide a means for releasingfeed contained in said feed bin, a closing means member cooperating withsaid feed bin so as to close the open bottom of the compartments thereofexcept the one positioned over the feed chute, drive meansinterconnected to said feed bin adapted to rotate it so that each of itsseparate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feedchute and release feed contained therein, an automatic control meansinterconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate rotation ofsaid feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control meanscomprising a rotatable cam having a series of spaced concave pockets onits peripheral surface,.an axle interconnecting said feed bin, saiddrive means and said rotatable cam, a timer clock including a rotatabletimer plate having a tripper pin extending out from a peripheral portionthereof positioned so as to engage and turn said rotatable cam atpreselected intervals, a switch for actuating said drive means includingan on off button engaging the periphery of said rotatable cam operatedby contacting the selectively spaced concave pockets thereon as it isselectively rotated said drive means actuated to turn said feed bin torelease feed from a compartment therein by a selected time intervalcontrolled by said timer clock so that the tripper pin engages and turnssaid rotatable cam enough to cause the switch on-off button to slide outof the concave pocket onto the adjacent peripheral surface to turn thedrive means on and continue to rotate said axle, feed bin, and rotatablecam until said switch button slides into the next adjacent concavepocket on the surface of said cam when the switch is thereby turned off.

2. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 1 which includes aninlet hose for providing water which is connected to a source of water,an outlet hose ,interconnected to said inlet hose through a check valve,said outlet hose positioned to open adjacent to said feed chute tosupply water to feed released therefrom, and an actuating arm connectedto said check valve so positioned that it bears against the verticallysectioned compartments of said feed bin and opens said check valve toallow water flow as the feed is released and to close it after the feedhas been released from one of said feed bin compartments.

3. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 2 which includes adrinking water dispenser comprising a bottle holder attached to saidsupporting structure, a water pan positioned below said bottle holderand a bottle mounted upside down in said bottle holder positioned sothat its neck extends into said water pan so that when filled with waterit is automatically dispensed by gravity to level within said pan.

4. An automatic feeding machine comprising a supporting structure, arotatable feed bin mounted within said supporting structure, said feedbin having vertically sectioned separate open-bottomed compartments, afeed chute mounted within said supporting structure beneath said feedbin and extending down therefrom exterior of said structure to anoutlet; so as to provide a means for releasing feed contained in saidfeed bin, closing means cooperating with said feed bin so as to closethe bottom portion of each of said feed bin compartments except onepositioned over the said feed chute which is open to release feed, drivemeans interconnected to said feed bin to rotate it so that each of itsseparate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feedchute and release feed contained therein, automatic control meansinterconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate said rotationof said feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control meansincluding a clock, a rotatably mounted timer member adjacent to saidclock having spaced contact elements on its periphery equal to thenumber of compartments in the feed bin, a tripper pin extending fromsaid clock and movable to engage one of said contact elements atpreselected times and to move said rotatably mounted timer member, aswitch interconnected to said timer member and to the drive means whichturns it on and off.

5. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 4 wherein therotatably mounted timer has a cam surface provided with a series ofspaced concave pockets in its rotated periphery, said switch resilientlypresses against said cam surface and periodically drops into saidconcave pockets to turn it on and off as said cam element is rotated.

6. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 5 wherein, when thetripper pin extending from said clock engages one of said contactelements of said timer member, said timer member is rotated sufficientlythereby to cause said switch to be moved out of a concave pocket to theadjacent cam surface to turn the switch and connected motor on'so as tocontinue rotating the timer member until said switch drops into the nextadjacent concave pocket wherein the switch is turned off.

7. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 6 which includes aninlet hose for providing water which is connected to a source of water,an outlet hose interconnected to said inlet hose through a check valve,said outlet hose positioned to open adjacent to said feed chute tosupply water to feed released therefrom, and an actuating arm connectedto said check valve so positioned that it bears against the verticallysectioned compartments of said feed bin and opens said check valve toallow water flow as the feed is released and to close it after the feedhas been released from one of said feed bin compartments.

8. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 4 which includes adrinking water dispenser comprising a bottle holder attached to saidsupporting structure, a water pan positioned below said bottle holderand a bottle mounted upside down in said bottle holder positioned sothat its neck extends into said water pan so that when filled with waterit is automatically dispensed by gravity to level within said pan.

1. An automatic feeding machine for animals comprising a supportingstructure, a rotatable feed bin mounted within said supportingstructure, said feed bin having vertically sectioned separateopen-bottomed compartments, a feed chute mounted within said supportingstructure beneath one of said compartments and extending down therefromexterior of said structure to an outlet to provide a means for releasingfeed contained in said feed bin, a closing means member cooperating withsaid feed bin so as to close the open bottom of the compartments thereofexcept the one positioned over the feed chute, drive meansinterconnected to said feed bin adapted to rotate it so that each of itsseparate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feedchute and release feed contained therein, an automatic control meansinterconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate rotation ofsaid feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control meanscomprising a rotatable cam having a series of spaced concave pockets onits peripheral surface, an axle interconnecting said feed bin, saiddrive means and said rotatable cam, a timer clock including a rotatabletimer plate having a tripper pin extending out from a peripheral portionthereof positioned so as to engage and turn said rotatable cam atpreselected intervals, a switch for actuating said drive means includingan on - off button engaging the periphery of said rotatable cam operatedby contacting the selectively spaced concave pockets thereon as it isselectively rotated said drive means actuated to turn said feed bin torelease feed from a compartment therein by a selected time intervalcontrolled by said timer clock so that the tripper pin engages and turnssaid rotatable cam enough to cause the switch on-off button to slide outof the concave pocket onto the adjacent peripheral surface to turn thedrive means on and continue to rotate said axle, feed bin, and rotatablecam until said switch button slides into the next adjacent concavepocket on the surface of said cam when the switch is thereby turned off.2. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 1 which includes aninlet hose for providing water which is connected to a source of water,an outlet hose interconnected to said inlet hose through a check valve,said outlet hose positioned to open adjacent to said feed chute tosupply water to feed released therefrom, and an actuating arm connectedto said check valve so positioned that it bears against the verticallysectioned compartments of said feed bin and opens said check valve toallow water flow as the feed is released and to close it after the feedhas been released from one of said feed bin compartments.
 3. Anautomatic feeding machine as defined in claim 2 which includes adrinking water dispenser comprising a bottle holder attached to saidsupporting structure, a water pan positioned below said bottle holderand a bottle mounted upside down in said bottle holder positioned sothat its neck extends into said water pan so that when filled with waterit is automatically dispensed by gravity to level within said pan.
 4. Anautomatic feeding machine comprising a supporting structure, a rotatablefeed bin mounted within said supporting structure, said feed bin havingvertically sectioned separate open-bottomed compartments, a feed chutemounted within said supporting structure beneath said feed bin andextending down therefrom exterior of said structure to an outlet, so asto provide a means for releasing feed contained in said feed bin,closing means cooperating with said feed bin so as to close the bottomportion of each of said feed bin compartments except one positioned overthe said feed chute which is open to release feed, drive meansinterconnected to said feed bin to rotate it so that each of itsseparate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feedchute and releaSe feed contained therein, automatic control meansinterconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate said rotationof said feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control meansincluding a clock, a rotatably mounted timer member adjacent to saidclock having spaced contact elements on its periphery equal to thenumber of compartments in the feed bin, a tripper pin extending fromsaid clock and movable to engage one of said contact elements atpreselected times and to move said rotatably mounted timer member, aswitch interconnected to said timer member and to the drive means whichturns it on and off.
 5. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim4 wherein the rotatably mounted timer has a cam surface provided with aseries of spaced concave pockets in its rotated periphery, said switchresiliently presses against said cam surface and periodically drops intosaid concave pockets to turn it on and off as said cam element isrotated.
 6. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 5 wherein,when the tripper pin extending from said clock engages one of saidcontact elements of said timer member, said timer member is rotatedsufficiently thereby to cause said switch to be moved out of a concavepocket to the adjacent cam surface to turn the switch and connectedmotor ''''on'''' so as to continue rotating the timer member until saidswitch drops into the next adjacent concave pocket wherein the switch isturned ''''off''''.
 7. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim6 which includes an inlet hose for providing water which is connected toa source of water, an outlet hose interconnected to said inlet hosethrough a check valve, said outlet hose positioned to open adjacent tosaid feed chute to supply water to feed released therefrom, and anactuating arm connected to said check valve so positioned that it bearsagainst the vertically sectioned compartments of said feed bin and openssaid check valve to allow water flow as the feed is released and toclose it after the feed has been released from one of said feed bincompartments.
 8. An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 4which includes a drinking water dispenser comprising a bottle holderattached to said supporting structure, a water pan positioned below saidbottle holder and a bottle mounted upside down in said bottle holderpositioned so that its neck extends into said water pan so that whenfilled with water it is automatically dispensed by gravity to levelwithin said pan.